Hair weave removal apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A hair weave removal apparatus and a method are provided. The hair weave removal apparatus includes a handle; and a tip extending from and retractable within the handle, the tip having a first extending portion, a second extending portion, a linking portion therebetween, and a sharp edge. The sharp edge is on the linking portion, the first extending portion, or both. The method includes providing a subject having weave hair coupled to the subject through at least one stitch of thread; providing a handle and a substantially rigid tip; inserting a first extending portion of the tip into the at least one stitch between the thread and the weave hair; and pushing the sharp edge against the thread to cut the at least one stitch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/721,019, filed Sep. 26, 2005, theentire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair weave removal. More particularly,the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for hairweave removal.

BACKGROUND

Hair weaving systems and techniques are commonly used to lengthen orincrease the fullness of human or animal hair, such as show horses. Hairweaving consists of gluing, heat-bonding, or crocheting synthetic ornatural human or animal hair (“weave hair”) onto layers of a subject'sexisting hair. When gluing or heat-bonding the weave hair onto theexisting hair, the existing hair is divided into sections, and the weavehair is then either glued or fused with wax onto the existing hairsections. To crochet the weave hair onto the existing hair, the existinghair is braided along the scalp and the weave hair is then stitched witha strong weaving thread onto the braids. Alternatively, the weave hairmay be stitched onto a skull cap that is fixed to the subject.

Weave hair, particularly when it consists of natural human hair, can bevery expensive, so it is frequently used repeatedly before it isdiscarded. Although some weave hair may be used for up to one yearbefore it should be discarded, it must be frequently removed from theexisting hair to allow for tightening and cleaning.

Glued or heat-bonded weave hair may be removed through application ofhair oils that loosen the chemical bonds between the weave hair and theexisting hair. This technique can be messy, however, and is noteffective on more attractive, crocheted weaves.

When removing crocheted weave hair, a hair stylist or groomer willtypically cut each stitch of the hair weave with clippers or scissors.The hair stylist or groomer typically must tug on the weave hair andattempt to insert a blade of the clippers or scissors between the weavehair and the tight stitches. This process of tugging, inserting, andcutting can be time consuming, painful, unsanitary, and damaging to theexpensive weave hair and the subject's body and existing hair. Points ofthe blades frequently also slip and nick the stylist's, groomer's, orsubject's skin, resulting in pain, infections, and even transfer ofdisease. Even without cutting of the subject's skin, use of the samescissors or clippers on multiple subjects can transfer lice or othercontaminants. Because the clippers or scissors are typically reusedwithout being sterilized, techniques such as these can pose a dire riskto all involved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hair weave removal apparatus for removing hair weave stitches has ahandle and a tip extending from and retractable within the handle. Thetip has a first extending portion, a second extending portion, a linkingportion between the first extending portion and the second extendingportion, and a sharp edge. The sharp edge is on the linking portion, thefirst extending portion, or both. In one embodiment, the first extendingportion also includes a blunt surface on an opposite side of the firstextending portion than the linking portion. In another embodiment, thefirst extending portion also includes a distal end with a width smallerthan a width of the hair weave stitches.

A method for removing a hair weave includes providing a subject havingweave hair coupled to the subject through at least one stitch of thread.The method also includes providing a handle with a substantially rigidtip. The tip has a first extending portion with a blunt first side and adistal end, a second extending portion fixed relative to the firstextending portion, a linking portion, and a sharp edge on the firstextending portion, the linking portion, or both. The first extendingportion is inserted into the at least one stitch of thread between theat least one stitch of thread and the weave hair, and the sharp edge ispushed against the at least one stitch of thread to cut the at least onestitch of thread.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a hair weave removalapparatus in a retracted state according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the hair weave removalapparatus of FIG. 1 in a non-retracted state;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a hair weave removalapparatus in a retracted state according to another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the hair weave removalapparatus of FIG. 3 in a non-retracted state;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the hair weave removal apparatus ofFIG. 3 as used according to one embodiment of a method according to theinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a methodaccording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hair weave removal apparatus 10 forremoving hair weave stitches has a handle 20 and a tip 30 extendablefrom and retractable within the handle 20. The handle 20 is hollow andincludes a rear outer portion 22 with a cap 28, a front outer portion24, and a central inner portion 26 that slides within the outer portions22, 24. A retraction assembly 40 is located within the handle.

The tip 30 has a first extending portion 32, a second extending portion34 and a linking portion 36 between them. The first extending portion 32includes a blunt first surface 32 a, an inner, second surface 32 badjacent to the linking portion 36, and a distal end 32 c. In thisembodiment, a sharp edge 38 runs along the inner surface 32 b of thefirst extending portion, the linking portion 36, and an inner surface ofthe second extending portion 34. However, it is also within the scope ofthe invention for the sharp edge to be located on any one or more of thefirst extending portion, the second extending portion, and/or thelinking portion. In this embodiment, the second extending portion 34includes a blunt, curved, end portion 34 a.

The retraction assembly 40 includes a first linear, toothed element 42fixed to a proximal end of the tip 30 and a second linear, toothedelement 44 fixed to the cap 28. A central member 46 is fixed to thecentral inner portion 26 and is located between the first and secondtoothed elements 42, 44. The central member 46 includes a rotatabletoothed wheel 48 that engages the teeth of the first and second toothedelements 42, 44.

When the outer portions 22, 24 of the handle 20 are moved away from eachother, the front outer portion 24 pulls the central portion 26 alongwith it through force of friction. Thus, as the rear outer portion 22and the central portion 26 are moved apart from each other, the secondtoothed element 44 rotates the toothed wheel 48 of the central member 46clockwise through the toothed engagement. The toothed wheel 48 thenpushes the first toothed element 42 away from the second toothed element44. In turn, the first toothed element 42 pushes the tip out of thehandle to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Likewise, when the outer portions 22, 24 of the handle 20 are movedtoward each other, the front outer portion 24 pushes the central portion26 along with it through friction force. The toothed wheel 48 thenrotates counter-clockwise to pull the first and second toothed elements42, 44 together, thereby retracting the tip 30 into the handle 20.

The distal end 32 c of the first extending portion 32 is sized to beinserted into a stitch of a hair weave (shown in FIG. 5). In thisembodiment, a width w of the distal end 32 c is less than a typical hairweave stitch width, such as approximately ⅜″, although one skilled inthe art will understand that the width may be changed to fit withindifferent sized stitches. As the width w is increased toward thismaximum width, the distal end 3i c becomes less sharp, and thereforesafer for the subject. As the width w is decreased within this range,the distal end 32 c can be more easily inserted into a wide variety ofstitch widths at a variety of angles. In one embodiment, therefore, thewidth of the distal end 32 c is approximately between ⅜″ and ½″,although one skilled in the art will understand that the invention isnot limited thereto.

The depth d of the distal end 32 c increases from a thin point to thethicker, sharp portion 38 in the proximal direction. The thicker thedepth d of the sharp portion 38, the more force is applied by the sharpportion 38 to a stitch when the first extending portion 32 is insertedinto it. However, as the depth d of the sharp portion 38 is decreased,the first extending portion 32 can be inserted into the stitch moreeasily. In one embodiment, therefore, the depth d of the sharp portionis between approximately 1/16″ and ½″, although one skilled in the artwill understand that the invention is not limited thereto.

The first extending portion 32, the second extending portion 34, and thelinking portion 36 are formed together in one, rigid piece of metal,such as stainless steel or steel chrome alloy, in the embodiment shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. Although the end 34 a of the second extending portion34 is shown in the form of a ball, any configuration capable of holdinga stitch between the first and second extending portions 32, 34 can besubstituted. In one embodiment, the second extending portion is a mirrorimage of the first extending portion.

The remainder of the tip 30, and the handle 20 are formed of inexpensiveplastic, such as thermoplastic polymers, in the embodiment shown toallow for cheap manufacture and disposability. In this embodiment, thehandle 20 is approximately 4 or more inches in its non-retracted stateso that it may be stably grasped by a hand. However, the invention isnot limited to these sizes or materials, and the handle canalternatively comprise aluminum, stainless steel, taklon, etc., and anydesirable length.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, another embodiment of a hair weave removalapparatus 100 for removing hair weave stitches has a handle 120 and atip 130 extendable from and retractable within the handle 120. Thehandle 120 is hollow and includes an outer housing 122 with a cap 128.The inside surface of the outer housing 122 has two grooves 124 onopposite sides extending from a first inwardly projecting ledge 123 toopenings 126 in the outer housing 122. The outer housing 122 also has asecond inwardly projecting ledge 128 toward its distal end. A retractionassembly 140 projects through the handle 120 and is fixed to a proximalend of the tip 130.

As discussed above in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tip 130 has a firstextending portion 132, a second extending portion 134, a linking portion136 between them. The first extending portion 132 includes a blunt firstsurface 132 a, an inner, second surface 132 b adjacent to the linkingportion 136, and a distal end 132 c. In this embodiment, a sharp edge138 runs along the inner surface 132 b of the first extending portion,the linking portion 136, and an inner surface of the second extendingportion 134. However, it is also within the scope of the invention forthe sharp edge to be located on any one or more of the first extendingportion, the second extending portion, and/or the linking portion. Inthis embodiment, the second extending portion 134 includes a blunt,curved, end portion 134 a.

The retraction assembly 140 includes a rod having two flanges 142projecting on opposite sides and pushing through elastic force againstthe inner surface of the handle 120 within the grooves 124. Acompression spring 144 is wound around the rod between the flanges 142and the second inwardly projecting ledge 128. As the rod is pushedaxially against the force of the compression spring 144, the flanges 142slide along the grooves 124 until they reach the openings 126, therebypushing the tip 130 out of the handle 120. Due to natural spring force,the flanges 142 project into the openings 126 and stop the rod frommoving further.

To retract the tip 130, the flanges 142 projecting outside of theopenings 126 are pushed back into the handle 120. The force of thecompression spring 144 then pushes the rod backward to the positionshown in FIG. 3, thereby retracting the tip 130 back into the handle120.

In this embodiment, the tip 130 and spring 144 are formed of metal, andthe remaining elements are formed of inexpensive plastic to allow forcheap manufacture of the device. One skilled in the art will understandthat other materials may alternatively be used and that the invention isnot limited to the embodiments described herein.

Although only two embodiments of hair weave removal apparatuses withretractable tips are discussed in detail above, one skilled in the artwill understand that many different retractable mechanisms may besuitably substituted, such as those commonly used in retractable pens,etc.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a method for removing a hair weave includesproviding 600 a subject 200 having weave hair 202 coupled to the subjectthrough at least one stitch 206 of thread 208. In the embodiment shown,the weave hair 202 is coupled to the subject by being stitched to thesubject's hair 204. However, the weave hair 202 can alternatively becoupled to the subject by being stitched to a skull cap (not shown) thatis fixed to the subject's head. The method also includes providing 610 ahair weave removal apparatus 10 with a handle 20 and a substantiallyrigid tip 30, the tip having a first extending portion 32 with a bluntfirst side and a distal end, a second extending portion 34 fixedrelative to the first extending portion, a linking portion 36, and asharp edge 38 on the first extending portion, the linking portion, orboth. The first extending portion 34 is inserted 630 into the at leastone stitch 206 between the thread 208 and the weave hair 202. The sharpedge 38 is pushed 640 against the thread 208 to cut the at least onestitch 206.

In one embodiment, the method further includes disposing 660 of the hairweave removal apparatus 10 after cutting the at least one stitch 206.The method may further include retracting 650 the tip 30 into the handle20. In some embodiments, the method also includes sterilizing 620 thetip 30 before inserting it into the at least one stitch 206.

The various embodiments of hair weave removal apparatuses and methodsdiscussed above allow for faster, safer, and less painful hair weaveremoval, as the apparatus may be quickly slid into hair weave stitcheswithout the need for tugging or snipping. Retractability and the bluntsurface of tip being next to the subject's skin can lower the occurrenceof accidental nicks and scrapes due to pointy scissors or clippers.Manufacture of the hair weave removal apparatus may also be cheaper thanthe solid, metal clippers or scissors, so they may be easily sold inbulk units, allowing disposal after each use. Disposability can furtherincrease the safety and cleanliness of the hair weave removal procedure.

While this invention has been described in connection with certainexamples of embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangementsincluded within the spirit and scope of the appended claims andequivalents thereof.

1. A hair weave removal apparatus for removing hair weave stitches, thehair weave removal apparatus comprising: a handle; and a tip extendingfrom and retractable within the handle, the tip having a first extendingportion, a second extending portion, a linking portion therebetween, anda sharp edge, wherein the sharp edge is on the linking portion, thefirst extending portion, or both.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe first extending portion further comprises a blunt surface on anopposite side of the first extending portion than the linking portion.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first extending portion furtherincludes a distal end having a width smaller than a width of said hairweave stitches.
 4. A method for removing a hair weave, the methodcomprising: providing a subject having weave hair coupled to the subjectthrough at least one stitch of thread; providing a handle and asubstantially rigid tip, the tip including a first extending portion,having a blunt first side and a distal end, a second extending portionfixed relative to the first extending portion, a linking portion, and asharp edge on the first extending portion, the linking portion, or both;inserting the first extending portion into the at least one stitch ofthread between the at least one stitch of thread and the weave hair; andpushing the sharp edge against the at least one stitch of thread to cutthe at least one stitch of thread.
 5. The method of claim 4, furthercomprising disposing of the handle and the tip.
 6. The method of claim4, further comprising retracting the tip into the handle.
 7. The methodof claim 4, further comprising sterilizing the tip.